Inspection of VA Regional Office Los Angeles, California

Overall, VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) benefits inspectors determined Los Angeles VA Regional Office (VARO) claims processing staff incorrectly processed 24 of the 90 (27 percent) disability claims selected for review. The claims processing errors resulted in approximately $499,976 in improper benefits payments at the time of our inspection in February 2015. The OIG benefits inspectors sample disability claims considered at increased risk of processing errors so inspection results do not represent the accuracy of all disability claims processed at the Los Angeles VARO. OIG staff found VARO staff incorrectly processed 13 of 30 claims related to temporary 100 percent disability evaluations, and processed 7 of 30 traumatic brain injury claims incorrectly. Results in these two areas do not suggest improvement since the VARO was last inspected in 2012. OIG reported 4 of 30 cases relating to Special Monthly Compensation and ancillary benefits contained errors. Los Angeles VARO staff did not accurately establish the correct date of claim in an electronic system of records for 2 of 30 claims sampled. OIG inspectors also determined VARO staff delayed taking action in processing 3 of the 30 benefits reduction cases because VARO management did not prioritize this workload. The Director of the Los Angeles VARO concurred with OIG’s recommendations for improvement.